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CAPTURE
Clarice didn't realize she was in trouble until the exit she recognized as being that leading to the White House was passed. Slowly she reached along the seat, continuing to look out of the window so as not to raise suspicion. With great patience and an impressive degree of stealth she began a series of covert texts to Ardelia. Her first text was simple and direct.
WITH RIPPER-NO REPLY OR HE WILL FIND PHONE
She forwarded to Ardelia the alias Stuart used and his description. She also described the vehicle and the plate number, thankful that she had the presence of mind and the forethought to make note of it as she approached the vehicle. Clarice Starling was certain she was now in the company of Stuart Miggs.
Hannibal warned me! He practically told me how! If this crazy bastard doesn't kill me, Hannibal will.
"Excuse me, your name was?" She questioned politely smiling in a friendly, almost flirtatious manner.
"James Keats, Mrs. Lecter." He voice wavering almost imperceptibly as he spoke her married name.
Clarice could see his unease and noticed the perspiration channeling along his furrowed brow.
Even speaking his name makes you sweat doesn't it, Stuart?
"May we have music, James?"
"What would you like to hear?"
"Rock if you can find a good station. My husband hates the hell out of that kind of music so, when I 'm alone or out running errands, that's what I play. Do you mind?"
Clarice took a deep breath, her heart raced slightly as she sent another text.
Tell Hannibal I'm sorry. He warned me. I let my guard down.
"No problem." Stuart fumbled at the sound system of the town car and found an appropriate station. Clarice continued to text, singing along with the radio, careful not let on that she realized she was being taken away from the Washington area. Thankfully she was so familiar with her phone that she could send texts with her hand inside her purse. The driver's eyes shifted continually from the road to her and back again.
Traveling north. Backroads. No signs.
Ardelia ran down the hall with her phone in her hand, and burst into Pearsall's office.
She interrupted a meeting without apology.
"Clint…the Ripper's got Clarice!"
"What? How?"
He showed up at the house and pretended he was a driver escorting her to the White House. She believed she was being taken to a meeting for Hannibal and just realized who he is."
A text came through to Ardelia. She held her breath as she read it.
"He pulled into a garage. She thinks they are changing cars. Someone's gotta tell Hannibal."
"Jesus Christ…Hannibal…" Pearsall buried his face in his now thoroughly sweaty hands.
"Hannibal what?"
"Hannibal asked me as a personal favor, to put some agents on her. Christ…I promised and I totally blanked on it. He must have known something like this was going to happen. He's going to go crazy."
Ardelia stood in the doorway. She was both terrified and awestruck at the thought. "Jesus, Pearsall…Jesus. How are you going to tell him?"
Pearsall stood and quickly joined Ardelia. "In full restraints…that's how."
THE SWITCH
The driver pulled into the garage and moved to open Clarice's door. She stepped out and smiled.
"This obviously isn't the White House. What's up?"
"The engine light came on and I don't want to drive down Pennsylvania Avenue with a potentially smoking engine. They'll think I'm a terrorist with a car bomb or something. I don't want to get myself shot or anything. We will just change cars and head on over. Hope you don't mind if we use my car. If I go all the way back to the garage, we'll never make it to that meeting in time. You wouldn't want to disappoint your husband would you?"
"No, of course not, your car will be fine."
Clarice turned to reach for her purse expecting Stuart to make his move. A second later, he was on her. She took a deep breath the moment he grabbed her, holding the precious oxygen in her lungs, she forced herself not to inhale.
Clarice could feel Stuart's strength as the rough cloth clamped tightly over her mouth and nose. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. He nuzzled against her skin and pressed hard.
Starling struggled with all her strength and fought hard not to breathe. Not knowing what chemical was on the cloth or what it would do to the child she carried, she would not inhale. She thrashed for a few moments and allowed her body to go limp, feigning unconsciousness. The Ripper assumed she had passed out and with no more than a cursory examination, carried her to another car.
You idiot…Hannibal would have been much more thorough.
He recovered her purse and put it in the front seat of the car. He began to drive again.
Clarice rested on the seat. Perfectly quiet listening and watching as the trees moved past. As they approached their destination, she was able to get a quick glimpse of the view.
She had time to send one final text.
H… I know you remember the day you read Dante to me…the view from the Andes…the trees… the lake? Look for it and you'll find me…I know you'll come for me. I'm sorry…I love you.
Just as she sent the text, the bars on the phone showed that the battery was gone. No more messages were possible. She prayed the final message got through.
TELLING HANNIBAL
Hannibal was not in his cell when they came for him. He was in an unexpected meeting with his lawyer. The short, rather portly gentleman handed Hannibal a copy of the Executive Order.
"The order of commutation was signed early this morning at the White House. Technically, Doctor Lecter you are now a completely free man."
Hannibal was confused as to why. He didn't believe Stuart would have moved that quickly. "It was my thought the White House would refuse to sign the paperwork until Mariyah was found."
"Mariyah Bashandi was found alive after being dropped off just outside the offices of the National Tattler earlier this morning."
Stuart, I'm impressed. You are very good at following directions.
Hannibal was becoming agitated. He needed to get out. It wouldn't be long before Stuart would strike. "Am I free to go? I need to get to my wife. If the Ripper released Mariyah, Clarice is in danger."
"You are, Doctor. I'll escort you through the process myself."
Hannibal reached out and shook the lawyer's hand. "I appreciate your expertise and your sensitivity in this matter."
"Not at all, Doctor, I was very glad to help. Now let's get you out of here."
The lawyer stood and knocked on the door for the officer to unlock it. The officer did not open the door.
Hannibal exchanged a questioning look with his attorney. The man knocked a second time. The officer opened the door and stepped inside.
"Doctor Lecter has received his sentence commutation from the White House and the young lady, Mariyah Bashandi has been released. By executive order, my client is to be released and I am here to escort him through the process."
"I'm sorry Sir. You are free to go, but I have orders not to release Doctor Lecter."
Hannibal stood very still careful not to exhibit any emotion, though he was growing more agitated by the moment. For reasons unknown Hannibal was becoming extremely concerned with Clarice's well-being. His nerves were raw, the trembling in his left hand obvious only to himself.
"Under whose orders am I to remain?" The icy chill of the question posed so calmly that it was terrifying.
The officer shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. For the first time in Lecter's presence he was afraid. They were holding him there and he no longer wanted to be held. Now Hannibal's unpredictable nature was of great concern.
"Deputy Director Pearsall has asked that you be retained. I also have orders to restrain you, Sir."
The attorney protested vehemently. "You can't restrain him…he's here without charges and all of his previous convictions have been commuted. You can't restrain him or keep him here!"
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I don't know what this is about or what to do aside from following the orders I have been given. Will you take your seat and allow me to secure you to the table until we can figure this out? I promise you I will not keep you here one moment more than is absolutely necessary."
Hannibal could see no choice but to comply. "Of course, Officer, I understand the position you are in."
Hannibal sat at the table and allowed the officer to cuff him to the metal hoop welded to the center. Suddenly he heard movement behind him and could smell the acrid stench of fear. Without turning or lifting his eyes from the handcuffs, he spoke.
"Deputy Director Pearsall, I presume?"
Director Pearsall entered the room. He was obviously terrified to face Lecter.
The lawyer was angry and dialing his cell phone furiously. He stepped just outside the cell. "Doctor Lecter…I'll get you out of here within the hour."
Pearsall held a hand up. "Hold on. I have to talk to Lecter and he isn't going to like hearing what I have to say so the cuffs are as much for his protection as for ours. I don't want him to do anything that will jeopardize his newly earned freedom. You can escort him from the building after I'm through."
Hannibal was in no mood to be toyed with. The fear he sensed coming from Pearsall was not the same level of fear he sensed from him earlier. Hannibal had not sensed this level of fear from another human since Rinaldo Pazzi.
"It is so very thoughtful of you Deputy Director to offer me this level of protection. You would have me chained like an animal before speaking to me man to man? Your bravery has no bounds." Hannibal hissed as he shifted against the manacles.
"Doctor Lecter, your wife Clarice was apprehended this morning from the home she shared with Ardelia Mapp. She has contacted us and believes she is in the company of Stuart Miggs."
Hannibal was in shock. "I asked you to put agents on her! I told you she was in jeopardy! I trusted you with her life and you did what? How did he get past your agents?"
"There were no agents, Doctor…I'm sorry…I forgot."
"You're sorry? You forgot…YOU FORGOT!"
Roaring in anger, Hannibal Lecter jumped to his feet and attempted to rip the cuffs from the welded ring. He twisted and torqued his arms, raging, and pulling as the blood poured from the gashes the cuffs sliced through his flesh. He bellowed his anguish as he tried desperately to free himself from his chains.
Ardelia rushed into the room and seeing Hannibal's anguish ran to his side.
Hannibal turned to Pearsall. "Get these fucking cuffs off me you spineless bastard!"
Pearsall backed against the wall.
"Hannibal! Hannibal!" She yelled to get his attention.
Hearing Ardelia, Hannibal spun around, his eyes glowing.
Ardelia's heart broke for him, his pain so evident that her eyes welled from the sight of it. She put her arms around him. As she held him, Hannibal collapsed, tears streaming down his face, his entire body shaking uncontrollably from a combination of rage and despair.
She whispered in his ear. "I'll get you out of here but they won't let me remove the cuffs when you're out of control like this. Your wife needs you, Hannibal. You've got to get a handle on this…for Clarice."
Hannibal attempted to calm himself. Clarice wanted him…she needed him. He would not fail her.
Hannibal's shoulders shook as he tried to reign in his adrenalin. He didn't have Clarice to hold him and talk him down. Ardelia sat beside him and rubbed his back.
"It's okay…we'll get to her…she's okay."
Pearsall nodded to Ardelia. She reached for her handcuff key and looked at Hannibal.
"Please, Hannibal…I need to trust you…I need to be able to trust you."
Hannibal didn't respond, but purposely slowed his breathing to appear as if he had calmed.
As soon as Ardelia released him, Hannibal leapt from the bench and surged at Pearsall. Hannibal's hands grasped Pearsall's throat, digging like talons into his flesh. Hannibal lifted him by his throat and slammed the Deputy Director against the stone wall. Pearsall's eyes rolled in terror and he cringed as Hannibal's teeth bared and flashed inches from his face. He rasped in the terrified man's ear.
"I trusted you with all that was important to me...I trusted you with her life…If she dies…nothing will stop me!"
Ardelia rushed to his side. "Hannibal we can't help her if we can't get you out of here."
Hannibal slowly released Pearsall and backed up rubbing his bleeding wrists.
"I am going to retrieve my wife...bend your knees and pray to whatever wretched god made you that I find her. Alive."
The lawyer opened the door and walked Hannibal quickly through the exit. Within fifteen minutes, Hannibal was with Ardelia investigating the sight where Stuart left the town car.
Hannibal searched the air, his nostrils flaring. "He tried to use chloroform on her."
"Yes, she faked it. He thought she passed out. He has no idea she has been texting us."
"What was the last text she sent?"
"Something about the view."
She checked the text and showed it to Hannibal.
"H… I know you remember the day you read Dante to me…the view from the Andes…the trees… the lake? Look for it and you'll find me…I know you'll come for me. I'm sorry…I love you."
"Ardelia, is there a lake nearby…surrounded by large conifers?"
"There's a lake fifteen minutes north of here."
"The house will be surrounded by pine trees…on the north side of the lake. I know what I'm looking for Ardelia…If you will allow me…I'll drive."
Ardelia jumped into the passenger side of the car. Hannibal jumped behind the wheel and tore out of the lot. The fifteen minute drive took less than seven.
So as not to tip off Stuart, they parked the car near the lake and began to walk. Hannibal lead, Ardelia followed, her gun drawn.
Hannibal's predatory responses were highly tuned. He could smell the air, the scent of her shampoo still rich on the breeze. We are close…where is the building?
Suddenly, Hannibal saw a cluster of trees similar to a grouping near his home.
"Ardelia…that is the clearing Clarice was referring to. Wait here. If I need you, I will call for you. Do not take any chances. Stay here. If I fall…you are her only hope."
Ardelia nodded and took cover, moving up very carefully to find a better vantage point.
Hannibal moved toward the trees. He listened intently. It had been thirty minutes since Clarice had been able to contact Ardelia. That would mean wherever she was on that property either her phone was dead or…Miggs was with her.
Hold on Clarice…I am not far from you, my Love.
Hannibal slipped through the trees and made his way to the center of a small clearing. There, nestled in between the conifers just as Clarice had suggested was a large metal container, similar to a tractor trailer.
He searched the air and caught the scent of a man approaching. Hannibal slipped behind a tree and watched, slowing his heart rate as he waited.
Stuart emerged and opened the container, quickly slipping inside.
Hannibal moved quickly and quietly toward what he could only assume was Clarice's prison. He pulled out his cell phone and checked the address book. He had three numbers, Clarice, Barney and Logan.
Logan? Clarice programmed the number in the phone so I could call him.
Hannibal sent a quick text to Logan explaining the situation and asking him to send backup. He told Logan where he had left Ardelia. Her cell phone could be used to track their exact location.
Hannibal then moved to the container and opened the door. There standing beside Clarice, attempting to remove her clothing, was Stuart, one hand down his pants and the other on Clarice.
Hannibal's eyes flashed in the dark, glowing like flaming embers.
"If you continue, I will kill you much, much, more slowly than I had intended."
Stuart was obviously shocked to see Hannibal. Clarice, still feigning that she was unconscious, opened her eyes when she heard Hannibal's voice.
"H!"
"Hello, my Love. Forgive my tardiness. I arrived as soon as I was able."
Clarice said calmly. "I knew you would come for me."
Stuart glared at Hannibal. "I knew you would come, too. I counted on it."
"What else did you count on young Mr. Miggs? It appears by the placement of your hand down the front of your pants that you have followed in the family business. Your father was legendary in his self-gratification. It would seem that you suffer from similar inadequacies with woman and must abuse yourself to completion? I would ask that you remove your person from the company of my wife. I take great offense and would not have her used in that way."
Stuart reached out and caressed Clarice's breast, tweaking her nipple. "I'll use her any way I want and I'll make you watch, Old Man."
Clarice could see the absolute immolation raging in her husband's eyes. Hannibal charged across the space and reached for Stuart who stepped to the side, reached under the cloth covering his instruments and drove a probe into Hannibal's thigh.
Hannibal's breath hitched slightly but other than that brief pause, he resumed his charge. He found a scalpel on the ground that fell from the upended tray. Instead of attacking Stuart, Hannibal lunged for Clarice and began to cut the duct tape from her arms and legs.
Stuart grabbed another tool and drove it into Hannibal's back. This time, as the metal struck the bone of his scapula, Hannibal's legs buckled and he fell to the ground.
Stuart moved away from Hannibal to the other side of Clarice so that Lecter could not reach him quickly. He unbuckled her belt and lowered the zipper on her jeans. She struggled as he attempted to remove the garment.
Clarice, seeing Hannibal on the ground, wedged her right heel against the heel of her left boot. She forced the boot off and let it slide partially down her foot, and kicked it across the table. Luckily it landed precisely where she wanted, next to her husband.
Hannibal saw a small embroidered pouch poking out of the boot. He reached inside to find his Harpy.
"I had it with me…I missed you, H."
Hannibal stood slowly and moved to Clarice, using the Harpy to tear at the tape. In four passes, her hands and legs were free. Hannibal lifted Clarice from the table.
"Clarice…Forgive me my misogyny in this instance but I do not believe at this time that this is an appropriate place for a woman, especially my woman. Mr. Miggs is about to join the ranks of the Castrati and I believe he might like a bit of privacy for that sort of thing. Some scores must be settled between men and I intend to settle this now. Please find your friends. I will join you directly."
"Hannibal…Come with me. Lock him in and leave him to the cops." Clarice pleaded.
"Please, leave the space, Clarice. Ardelia is just through the clearing and Logan is on the way."
Clarice moved to the exit, Hannibal followed. She opened the door and stepped out. Hannibal kissed her, his eyes never moving from the Ripper.
"I apologize for allowing this beast to defile you, my Love. Whatever happens, know that I am yours."
The door closed and Clarice could hear Hannibal engage the large latch, locking it from the inside. Her heart raced. The last thing she could see before the door closed was Hannibal flashing his Harpy in his hand. Just before the helicopter blades drowned out the sound, she could hear Hannibal's metallic dungeon voice hiss.
"Come, Young Miggs…Your Daddy is calling you…it is time for you to die."
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Until the next chapter!
LH
